Monday, March 09, 2009

GOP Retaking Control?

Like a lot of people, I've been enjoying watching the Republicans cower at the threat of being on Rush Limbaugh's bad side and on the receiving end of his radio attacks. Think Progress has been keeping score, and they provide nice, simple links to pieces about Rep. Phil Gingrey, Gov. Mark Sanford, and RNC Chairman Michael Steele crossing the broadcast blowhard. Well, it looks like our fun is either over or about to go up a notch.

In the past few days, prominent Republican opinion makers seem to be taking stands against Limbaugh's hope that Obama will fail. Bill Kristol led off the charge on Thursday by saying that it's appropriate for Americans to hope that the president is successful (it's almost odd that such a reasonable statement now takes the form of a challenge). He was followed today by David Brooks, who was willing to discuss "the problem with Limbaugh," and Newt Gingrich, who said he didn't think "anyone should want the president of the United States to fail." Although they didn't all seem to be overly confrontational, they're effectively calling Rush out. As we've seen by now, Limbaugh isn't one to shy away from a fight he wants to have. Will we see a response on the radio tomorrow? Or will he decide that he's been able to push the Obama failing thing as far as he realistically can without starting to undermine his own position? I could easily be wrong (because it's not like I actually listen to Rush or anything), but I have a hard time seeing him let all this slide. Tomorrow's radio presentation may contain quite the fireworks show.